-- Julian Adams, Ph.D., President of R&D and CSO, to Present at New York City Academy of Sciences' "Hedgehog Pathway in Cancer" Symposium --
-- Infinity Scientists Also to Discuss Hedgehog Pathway and Data at Biorbis Cancer Stem Cells Meeting and EMBO Workshop on Hedgehog Signaling --
CAMBRIDGE, Mass., March 10, 2010 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc. (Nasdaq:INFI), an innovative drug discovery and development company, today announced that members of its senior leadership and scientific teams will be leading discussions and presenting data from its novel Hedgehog pathway inhibitor program – an emerging area of cancer research – at several upcoming conferences. Infinity's Hedgehog pathway inhibitor, IPI-926, is a potent, orally-delivered small molecule drug candidate that has demonstrated significant anti-tumor activity in multiple preclinical cancer models and in settings where the malignant activation of the pathway is implicated in difficult-to-treat cancers. IPI-926 is currently being evaluated in a Phase 1 clinical trial in patients with advanced solid tumors. Data from this trial are expected to be presented in 2010, and Infinity anticipates initiating Phase 2 development with IPI-926 later this year.
The upcoming conferences where Infinity's insights into the Hedgehog pathway and IPI-926 will be discussed include:
New York Academy of Sciences "Hedgehog Pathway in Cancer" Symposium - March 17, 2010, New York City
- Julian Adams, Ph.D., president of research and development and chief scientific officer, will discuss the emerging role of Hedgehog pathway inhibition in treating cancer and its novel approach with IPI-926.
Biorbis Cancer Stem Cells - March 24-25, 2010, Cambridge, Massachusetts
- Vito Palombella, Ph.D., vice president of drug discovery, will present an overview of the preclinical and clinical development of IPI-926 on March 25, 2010.
European Molecular Biology Organization (EMBO) Workshop on Hedgehog Signaling - March 27-31, 2010, St. Jean Cap Ferrat, France
- Karen McGovern, Ph.D., director of cancer biology, will discuss the discovery and characterization of IPI-926 in tumor models in an oral and poster presentation on March 31, 2010.
"We look forward to joining our industry colleagues for these Hedgehog pathway focused sessions and discussing the critical role it is playing in the development of a new generation of cancer treatments," stated Dr. Adams. "Infinity sees significant promise and potential in Hedgehog pathway inhibition, and has approached drug discovery and development in this space with tremendous tenacity. We believe our approach with IPI-926 could result in a targeted, personalized treatment that is able to address a broad range of cancers, including some of the most difficult to treat cancers. We are committed to this field to make a meaningful difference in patients' lives."
About Infinity Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
Infinity is an innovative drug discovery and development company seeking to discover, develop, and deliver to patients best-in-class medicines for the treatment of cancer and related conditions. Infinity combines proven scientific expertise with a passion for developing novel small molecule drugs that target emerging disease pathways. Infinity's programs in the inhibition of the Hsp90 chaperone system, the Hedgehog pathway and fatty acid amide hydrolase are evidence of its innovative approach to drug discovery and development. For more information on Infinity, please refer to the company's website at http://www.infi.com.
Forward-Looking Statements
This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of The Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to be materially different from historical results or from any future results expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include those regarding the utility of Hedgehog pathway inhibition, the therapeutic potential of IPI-926, timing for the initiation of further clinical development of IPI-926, and the presentation of clinical data for IPI-926. Such statements are subject to numerous factors, risks and uncertainties that may cause actual events or results to differ materially from the company's current expectations. For example, there can be no guarantee that IPI-926 will successfully complete necessary preclinical and clinical development phases or that Infinity's strategic alliance with Mundipharma International Corporation Ltd. will continue for its expected term or that it will fund Infinity's programs as agreed. Management's expectations could also be affected by risks and uncertainties relating to: results of clinical trials and preclinical studies, including subsequent analysis of existing data and new data received from ongoing and future studies; the content and timing of decisions made by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory authorities, investigational review boards at clinical trial sites, and publication review bodies; Infinity's ability to enroll patients in its clinical trials; unplanned cash requirements and expenditures, including in connection with business development activities; and Infinity's ability to obtain, maintain and enforce patent and other intellectual property protection for any product candidates it is developing. These and other risks which may impact management's expectations are described in greater detail under the caption "Risk Factors" included in Infinity's quarterly report on Form 10-Q filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on November 9, 2009. Any forward-looking statements contained in this press release speak only as of the date hereof, and Infinity expressly disclaims any obligation to update any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise.